Egyptian Cotton Sheets
What Makes Them Soooo Good?
By Esther Schultz

What exactly is cotton? Cotton is a natural fiber that grows in the seed pod of the cotton plant. It is the most widely used fiber in the world because of its versatility and comfort and is valued in bedding for its soft and breathable nature. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was called "King Cotton" because of the power it had in the economy.

Cotton fibers (also known as staples) typically range from 1/2 inch to 2 inches in length. Fiber length affects the strength, fineness and evenness of yarn. The longer the fiber, the stronger, finer and more even the yarn will be. The longest fibers, longer than 1 1/2 inches, produce the highest quality cotton fabrics.

Fiber length is largely determined by variety. Egyptian cotton is cotton grown exclusively in Egypt and has the longest fiber of all types of cotton. The humid conditions and rich soil in Egypt along the Nile River Valley create the perfect conditions to grow long cotton fibers. When woven with skill, the long delicate fibers of Egyptian cotton produce a soft, strong thread which has led to it being regarded as the most luxurious cotton in the world.

Thread count, ply and weave

Thread count indicates the density of the fabric in your bed linens and is an important characteristic used to evaluate the performance of linen. Thread count refers to the number of threads, both vertically and horizontally, in a one-inch square of fabric. In typical sheets found in most American stores, the thread count is unlikely to be greater than 200.

The long fiber of Egyptian cotton means that there is more continuous fiber to use when creating threads. The threads are smaller in diameter which means that there are more threads per square inch. But thread count alone does not determine quality. The ply (the number of threads twisted together) and weave are also important.

Although finer threads feel smoother, they are more fragile. Therefore the ply is very important in determining the quality of cotton fabric. High-end Egyptian cotton is twisted into a two-ply thread to provide a better quality product.

Percale is a term that is often mistaken as a blend of cotton and polyester. In fact, percale refers to the technical weave. It is a closely-woven, high-thread count weave, which produces a luxuriously silky feel and is just as important as a high thread count. The combination of a high thread count and a percale weave creates a high-end product.

So why is Egyptian cotton so good?

(a) The long fibers produce a more sturdy and durable fabric.
(b) The length of the fibers means less is needed in the weave, so there are fewer ends in the fabric to fray.
(c) The fibers are finer making the yarn smaller which means more threads per square inch resulting in stronger fabric.
(d) Higher thread count sheets have longer lives.
(e) The extra long, extra strong fibers mean less pilling (bobbles on the fabric surface) and lint.
(f) The fineness of the fiber makes the fabric it produces extremely soft.
(g) Its high absorbency makes it good at soaking up dies resulting in vibrant colors that last longer than with other types of cotton.
(h) It is hand picked which guarantees the highest level of purity and leaves fibers straight
and intact.

Is all Egyptian cotton the same?

Although Egyptian cotton is said to be the finest cotton in the world, not all Egyptian cotton is the same. It can vary in grade, fiber length, ply and weave and often differs greatly from one manufacturer to another. So what should you look for? When buying Egyptian cotton linens you should look for the following to ensure you are purchasing a high-quality product:

(a) 100% Egyptian cotton (some products are made with a mixture of Egyptian cotton and inferior quality cotton);
(b) minimum 300-thread count;
(c) percale weave;
(d) two-ply thread;
(e) A slight sheen to the appearance (true Egyptian cotton has sheen).

And remember, Egyptian cotton is like a fine wine - it improves with age. So don't be disheartened if it feels stiff at first. With every wash you will notice your sheets getting softer, making it even harder to get out of bed in the morning!